Could rookie Jared Sullinger be the next Kevin Garnett?

Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger dunks the ball over Miami (Ohio) forward Nick Winbush during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbus, Ohio, on November 26, 2010.
Photograph by Paul Vernon/associated press

Could rookie Jared Sullinger be the next Kevin Garnett?

Sidelined as he recovers from surgery for two herniated disks, rookie forward Jared Sullinger is determined to come back strong and help lead the Celtics into the future.

Photograph by Matt Kalinowski
| March 15, 2013

As his high school coach, Sullinger’s dad, Satch (second from right), taught his son (No. 34) to “play the game the way you live your life.”

Photograph by Robert Lee
| March 15, 2013

Columbus Northland High School’s Jared Sullinger blocks a shot by Cincinnati Princeton's Orlando Williams during the fourth quarter of the Division I boys Ohio state basketball championship game on March 28, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. Northland won 60-58.

Photograph by Paul Vernon/Associated Press
| March 15, 2013

Jared Sullinger and his parents--James “Satch” Sullinger, a legend in Ohio high school basketball, and Barbara Sullinger, a teacher--with his trophy for Boy's "Naismith High School Player of the Year" on March 23, 2010, in Atlanta.

Jared Sullinger of Ohio plays in the McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Game on March 31, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio.

Photograph by Jay LaPrete/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Jared Sullinger of the Junior National Select Team guards World Select Team's Enes Kanter of Turkey in the first quarter during the Nike Hoop Summit on April 10, 2010, in Portland, Oregon.

photograph by Rick Bowmer/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Ohio State coach Thad Matta talks with Sullinger, then a freshman, during the NCAA college basketball squad's media day on Oct. 14, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. Now a rookie Celtic, Sullinger is telling friends and family that he is getting an education from Boston veterans. “He told me, ‘I’ve learned so much from guys like Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce,’ ” says Matta. “A lot of guys don’t want to go in there and learn.”

photograph by Terry Gilliam/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger dunks the ball over Miami (Ohio) forward Nick Winbush during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbus, Ohio, on November 26, 2010.

Photograph by Paul Vernon/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger goes to the basket as North Carolina-Asheville's P.J. Primm defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on December 21, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio.

photograph by Terry Gilliam/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger carries the trophy following Ohio State’s 71-60 win over Penn State in the NCAA championship of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis on March 13, 2011.

photograph by Michael Conroy/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger talks to reporters in the locker room after practice for an East Regional third-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Cleveland on March 19, 2011. Sullinger amassed an impressive 65-11 record at Ohio State and twice helped lead the Buckeyes deep into the tournament.

photograph by Amy Sancetta/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger during free throw practice for an East regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament on March 24, 2011, in Newark. Sullinger, the youngest of three boys, was raised in a basketball-obsessed household. His older brothers, Julian and J.J., both played Division 1 college basketball.

photograph by Julio Cortez/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger grabs a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Northwestern on December 28, 2011, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 87-54.

photograph by Terry Gilliam/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger sits on the court at the end of an NCAA Final Four semifinal college basketball tournament game against Kansas on March 31, 2012, in New Orleans. Kansas won 64-62.

photograph by David J. Phillip/associated press
| March 15, 2013

At Ohio State in 2012, Sullinger speaks to media after the Kansas game.

photograph by Mark Humphrey/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Danny Ainge introduces the newly drafted forward in July 2012.

photograph by Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff/file
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger during a preseason game against the Brookyln Nets on October 16, 2012, at TD Garden in Boston.

photograph by Jared Wickerham/getty images
| March 15, 2013

Kevin Garnett and Sullinger look on from the sidelines during an NBA Europe Live Tour 2012 game in Turkey.

Sullinger and Brooklyn Nets forward-center Andray Blatche battle for the ball in the first half of their NBA basketball game on December 25, 2012, in New York.

photograph by John Minchillo/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger is fouled by Steve Novak of the New York Knicks in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 7.

photograph by Bruce Bennett/getty images
| March 15, 2013

New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire defends against Sullinger in the January 7 game.

Photograph by Kathy Willens/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger blocks a shot by the Houston Rockets’ Jeremy Lin on January 11.

photograph by Michael Dwyer/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger falls out of bounds after being fouled in front of Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets during the January 11 game at TD Garden.

photograph by Jared Wickerham/getty images
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger autographs pictures at Goodwill headquarters in Roxbury in January. The clothing drive, which Sullinger initiated, is one of the first tests of his celebrity. Some 600 people came out and donated several tons of clothes.

| March 15, 2013

Sullinger looks to pass over the defense of the Sacramento Kings’ Jason Thompson on January 30 at the TD Garden. Later, Sullinger would land awkwardly after collecting a rebound. He hobbled off the court with back spasms and never returned.

photograph by Jim Davis/Globe Staff/file
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger speaks to reporters about his season-ending back surgery before an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Boston on February 13, 2013. “It was an emergency,” he explained to Celtics fans in a video chat on the team’s website. “I was in so much pain.”

photograph by Elise Amendola/associated press
| March 15, 2013

Sullinger, listed at 6 feet 9 inches and 260 pounds, became, this season, one of the youngest starters ever for the Celtics.

photograph by matt kalinowski
| March 15, 2013

It was difficult, he says, to accept that back surgery would put a hold on everything. “But I’d rather have the surgery now than later in my career,” he says. As of February, the team expected him back for training camp for the 2013-2014 season. “The way I was raised was to always push through tough times.”